Dell Alienware x17 R1 (17.3-inch, 2021)

Wonderful overall aesthetic ; Serious specs ; Superb 4K screen ; Excellent RGB lighting accents

Not nearly enough USB-A ports ; Backlit trackpad may be distracting for some

A slimline gaming machine with plenty going for it - and only a handful of small complaints from what we've experienced during our gaming sessions.

It’s so powerful (yet surprisingly quiet and thin) ; Plenty of ports ; Improved design over M-series

The 4K config is very expensive ; It’s heavy ; 1440p is sharp enough for laptop form factor ; Trackpad is too small

Alienware’s new X17 laptop is a thin yet powerful gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch 4K display. It can run games smoothly, which is a feat, but it’ll cost you dearly. That’s tough to justify when 1440p gaming looks nearly as good.

Sleek new look ; Fast, attractive 4K 120Hz display option ; GeForce RTX 3080, 2TB SSD in test model delivers primo gaming ; Superior keyboard, with Cherry MX mechanical keys

Very expensive as configured ; Base model is $2,000-plus, but lightly configured ; Heavier and scarcely thinner than m17 ; Massive power brick ; Loud fans, especially in boosted performance modes

The Alienware x17 is an attractive, powerful, and pricey new toy, but it's not convincing as a redesign of the company's m17 flagship, considering its similar performance and extra weight.

Gorgeous, slim design ; Great overall and gaming performance ; Extra comfortable keyboard ; Solid battery life

Expensive ; Runs a bit warm

+ Gorgeous display ; + Sleek looks ; + Mechanical keyboard option is excellent ; + Strong port selection

- Can run hot ; - Very expensive

The Alienware x17 is an attractive gaming notebook with a beautiful display and a great mechanical keyboard, but it can run a bit hot despite an advanced cooling system, and it is definitely pricey.